Roy Barreras

Roy Leonardo Barreras Montealegre is a Colombian politician and 2018 presidential candidate, currently serving as senator since 2010. In addition to senator, Barreras serves as chairm of the governing party, the Partido de la U. He entered politics in 2006 when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives[1]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Barreras and the second or maternal family name is Montealegre.
Roy Barreras
Senator of Colombia
Assumed office
20 July 2010
President of the Senate of Colombia
In office
20 July 2012 – 20 July 2013
Preceded byJuan Manuel Corzo
Succeeded byJuan Fernando Cristo
Member of House of Representatives
In office
20 July 2006 – 20 July 2010
ConstituencyValle Del Cauca
Personal details
BornCali, Colombia
Political partyPartido de la U
Alma materUniversity of Valle
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Alfonso X University
ProfessionMedical doctor
Politician

Early life

Roy Barreras was born into a humble family in Cali, Colombia. His grandparents were from Spain, and fled to Colombia during the Spanish Civil War. His mother was from the countryside, her own family displaced during the Colombian conflict, and his father a medical doctor who was forced to travel far from home for extended periods as part of his profession. Barreras struggled during his childhood with bullying from his classmates, working odd jobs including as a taxi driver and an assistant in a bakery. He eventually followed in his father's footsteps and became a medical doctor, working for more than two decades in various parts of Colombia.[2]

Political career

Barreras was elected senator for the first time in 2006, and has succeeded in each of his re-election campaigns since. In 2011, he was elected to head the congressional Peace Commission, and has been a strong proponent of the Colombian peace process. On 14 June 2017, Senator Barreras officially began his 2018 presidential campaign with a letter to constituents that was published in La Semana.[3]

Barreras was a supporter of former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, also of the Partido de la U. Senator Barreras is considered a centrist, and his policy positions reflect his complicated upbringing. His reputation as a politician that is tough on crime has endeared him to those on the right, including tougher sentences for child abusers and stronger laws against drunk driving. However he appeals to the left as well with his advocacy for LGBT parenting and the right of gay parents to adopt children in Colombia.[4]

However, it is Senator Barreras' ardent support for Colombian peace process and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos that have been his defining attributes as both a senator and presidential candidate. Barreras has accused those who oppose the peace process of being populists whose rhetoric could do lasting damage to peace in the country.[4] Barreras lost in the first round of the 2018 presidential elections that eventually saw Ivan Duque of the Centro Democratico party elected to the presidency.

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References
  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20100206213641/http://www.roybarreras.com/home/quien-soy.aspx
  2. Roy Barreras en Confesiones. Confesiones. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. "Con una carta Roy Barreras oficializa su intención de ser candidato presidencial". La Semana. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. "Candidate Profile: Roy Barreras". Colombia Focus. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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